Punishments Loom Ahead of NASCAR’s Cook Out 400 at Martinsville

Martinsville, Virginia — The NASCAR Cup Series heads to Martinsville Speedway on Sunday, March 30, 2025, for the Cook Out 400, which will mark its seventh points-scoring race of the season. The race is set to take place over 400 laps on the historic track that first opened in 1947.

However, ahead of the event, the Garage 66 team faced a significant setback as they were hit with dual punishments due to failing technical inspections twice on Saturday. The team will be without engineer Hector Flores for the race and will lose their pit selection, a crucial aspect of race strategy.

The penalties were revealed by racing analyst Bob Pockrass, who noted the importance of passing NASCAR’s technical inspections before each race. “NASCAR requires all Cup Series teams to pass inspection every weekend, regardless of the race or venue,” explained Pockrass. “Failing to do so can lead to serious consequences like pit selection loss and ejection of key team members.”

This season has seen rigorous enforcement of NASCAR’s inspection rules, with teams allowed two attempts to pass inspections. For instance, Team AmeriVet’s No. 50 car encountered issues on its first attempt but successfully passed on the second. Conversely, the Garage 66 team could not meet the standards and faces repercussions as a result.

NASCAR star Chase Elliott, who starts the race from the front row after qualifying, expressed his thoughts on recent penalties. “At the end of the day, it’s the rule. I take responsibility for it,” Elliott stated regarding a penalty he received at Homestead. His comments reflect the heightened scrutiny drivers are under regarding adherence to NASCAR rules.

Aside from the penalties, the upcoming 400-lap race at Martinsville promises to be an exciting challenge for competitors. The .526-mile track integrates a mix of asphalt and concrete with minimal banking, making it one of the most distinct venues on the NASCAR circuit. The legendary driver Richard Petty holds the record for the most wins at Martinsville with 15 victories, while current star Denny Hamlin leads active drivers with five wins.

As anticipation builds, all eyes will be on Kyle Larson, who won last weekend’s race at Homestead and looks to continue his momentum. Larson noted, “Martinsville is a different beast, but I’m ready to face the competition.”

The Cook Out 400 is scheduled to begin at 3 PM ET on Sunday and will be broadcast on FOX Sports 1, with additional radio coverage provided by MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. Fans can tune in to see if Larson can achieve back-to-back victories or if another driver will claim victory at the historic track.

Fans witnessing this event can also refer to the revised race start times across various time zones to ensure they don’t miss the action:

City (Time Zone) – Start time

New York, NY (ET) – 3 PM

Chicago, IL (CT) – 2 PM

Los Angeles, CA (PT) – 12 PM

Toronto, Canada – 3 PM (ET)

As fans, we await an action-packed race at Martinsville, as always a highlight in the NASCAR calendar.